Day 18 (July 24th): Power Player

Envoy of love and justice! Today's prompt is all about Rua/Leo.

i always thought they could be friends, so...

The Future That Was

"Move over, idiot!" Lester shouted.

Leo snapped back, "You move!"

They shoved at each other, and the tussle messed with the positioning of the picnic blanket. Luna's hold on her basket tightened. She rolled her eyes. "Can you two quit it for, like, five minutes! I've gotta set this all up!"

The pair crossed their arms and made a point of staring in opposite directions. Their stalwart poses made it easier for Luna to straighten the blanket and set out the snacks and sodas she'd brought. Water, too, of course.

Leo peeked at the water.

A thousand questions ran through his mind. Did Lester need water? Or food? Had he seen him eating before? Maybe he drank oil, and in that case, what did his pee look like? Could he, technically, set his pee on fire-

"Why are we on this crappy roof, anyhow? The exhaust is killing me."

Lester pointed to vents attached to the roof. They'd snuck atop a department store. Leo said, "I found this place, and it is not crappy. From here, you have a perfect view of the amusement park fireworks without actually being there."

Lester sniffed. "You're avoiding the entry fee yet reaping the benefits. Exactly what I'd expect from someone like you."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

"Shut up!" Luna sat between them. "It's starting."

The pair went silent. Luna sipped water through a curly yellow straw. No stars were visible over New Domino, which was a typical night for the city. Leo often rounded the pool outside their apartment on lonelier nights and hoped for one to appear. Airplanes were the best he got.

Unlike the absence of stars, the fireworks reminded him of family, of friends, of being home. Before his parents got busy, they'd taken Luna and Leo as a summer tradition to the park and gone through all the rides.

Except the terrifying roller coaster, naturally.

A flurry of gold and violet rained smoke. The splashes of color reflected off the white Ferris wheel and fountains down below. The sanctioned-off section of grass in the park was packed with patrons on the hot June evening.

He remembered being there, his mother passing out juice pouches and mochi. He remembered being happier than ever, the happiest in the world, certain no night could ever match the fun of the splash ride with his mom, dad, and sis.

Leo watched Lester. The blossom of an orange firework reflected in his green irises. His mouth was slightly agape. Guess… he never had a chance at any happy memories like that.

He handed Lester a bottle of water. The android glanced at it less than a millisecond. "No thanks."

"Hey, um," Leo started.

"Yes?"

"Do, uh…"

Lester's eye twitched. "Since when do you think twice before blurting out whatever mindless thought comes to you?"

In truth, Leo had wanted to say something at least a little bit sentimental. After that, though? Leo asked, "Can you set your pee on fire?"

"What?" Lester shouted. His attention was now fully torn from the flurry of fireworks, which rained a shimmering silver and crimson bouquet. "Why in all nine hells would pee catch fire?"

"You're a robot and robots drink oil."

"I don't drink oil!" Leo couldn't help but laugh at his outrage, which sent Lester spiraling further. "I'm an android you negative IQ somehow-missed-evolution h-"

Luna whined, "Can't we have a single nice night? Look. This one's green. That's both of you guys' favorite colors."

"You, too?" they asked each other at the same time.

The next explosion was another emerald shower. The trio watched in silence. Leo sipped his water. A brilliant yellow burst left a blot of smoke in the sky. The lights fizzled. The smoke remained.

Leo looked up to that bleak sky and remembered the Ark Cradle. He peered at his heart mark in the dark.

"I'm glad we're here," he murmured. "I'm happy we're here together."

Luna searched his eyes, and Lester didn't look away from the fireworks.

Lester said, "I wish."

Leo gasped. He shoved something off his chest. The world was dark all of a sudden. He blinked and blinked again. Leo gathered up his thrown comforter. The whole scene was some stupid dream. His hand went to his wet pillow.

C'mon, he told himself, it wasn't anything to cry over. He swiped his arm across his face. That guy was barely even a friend to him. So what if they'd never meet again, and so what if he found himself staring at the empty desk at school every day?

The Ark Cradle was gone and the day was saved. He was a total hero and Lester was a total villain. So what if he could never forget Aporia crashing to his death by his attack?

It was just a dream.

He sniffled.

It'd never be real.